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THE HINDU Today's Paper » NATIONAL  HUBLI, March 24, 2014

BJP sets aside Muthalik’s induction

Girish Pattanashetti

short-lived joy:BJP State president Pralhad Joshi giving sweets to Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik after welcoming him into the party in Hubli on Sunday. Former party president K.S. Eshwarappa is at the centre.— Photo: Kiran Bakale

The jubilation in the BJP circle, particularly in Hubli-Dharwad, on winning over the controversial ‘Hindutva’ leader and founder of Sri Ram Sene Pramod Muthalik, and his subsequent induction by the State BJP leadership here on Sunday was short-lived as the BJP’s national leadership decided against inducting him into the party.

BJP State president and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi said: “Due to various reasons induction of Shri Pramod Muthalik has been set aside under central party directions.”

The firebrand right wing activist, who defended the actions of his followers in the pub attack in Mangalore in 2009 was named as an accused in the case. He is also facing several cases registered against for delivering inflammatory speeches. Mr. Muthalik was welcomed into the BJP by Mr. Pralhad Joshi, in the presence of former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, and former State party president, K.S. Eshwarappa, on Sunday.

M. Mohit Rao and Raghava M. report from Mangalore:

In the pub attack case, Mr. Muthalik was listed as 33rd accused. Though the verdict in the case is yet to be delivered by the court, over the years there were fissures in the organisation following Mr. Muthalik’s inclination towards politics.

“He went on his own after the incident, taking credit for it, while we workers are still burdened by the cases,” said Mr. Attavar He has since formed his own group, Ram Sene, that stays clear of politics “to focus on the protection of Hindu culture. And now, he has gone back leaving us in the lurch” complained Mr. Attavar.

In fact, Mr. Muthalik, who initially worked in different capacities with the ‘Sangh Parivar,’ had actually planned to contest from Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency against Pralhad Joshi this time.

And his sudden “change of heart” is said to be under pressure from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a point which Mr. Mutalik admitted to the presspersons in Hubli. Mr. Mutalik said he and the BJP had the common goal of making Narendra Modi Prime Minister, contesting against the party candidate would only result in division of votes.